Hydrangea plant named ‘HBA 214903’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘HBA 214903’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely and uniformly flowering habit; does not require a cold temperature treatment for flower initiation and development; mophead-type inflorescences with numerous pink-colored sterile flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HBA 214903’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HBA 214903’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new freely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong sturdy stems, large inflorescences, attractive flower color and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2008 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 617, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 03-0134-055, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in March, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since June, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HBA 214903’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HBA 214903’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Rapid growth rate; freely branching habit.     -   3. Strong and sturdy stems.     -   4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit; does not require a cold         temperature treatment for flower initiation and development.     -   5. Mophead-type inflorescences with numerous pink-colored         sterile flowers.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in sterile flower sepal color as plants of the new Hydrangea have darker pink-colored sterile flower sepals than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are more vigorous than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea hybrida ‘Agrihydravijf’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,731. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of ‘Agrihydravijf’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are faster-growing than plants of         ‘Agrihydravijf’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have broader leaves than plants         of ‘Agrihydravijf’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea do not require a cold treatment         for flower initiation and development whereas plants of         ‘Agrihydravijf’ require a cold treatment for flower initiation         and development.     -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have more sterile flowers per         inflorescence than plants of ‘Agrihydravijf’.     -   5. Sepal margins of sterile flowers of plants of the new         Hydrangea are entire whereas sepal margins of sterile flowers of         ‘Agrihydravijf’ are serrate to crenate.     -   6. Plants of the new Hydrangea have darker pink-colored sterile         flower sepals than plants of ‘Agrihydravijf’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HBA 214903’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘HBA 214903’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the spring in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 17° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were five months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HBA 214903’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 617, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 03-0134-055, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Thick; typically whitish brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; strong and             sturdy stems; rapid growth rate and vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 25 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about             six to eight lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Length.—About 16 cm to 18 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm to 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 20° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—Close to 144C, becoming closer to 144A with             development; at internodes, close to 187B; lenticels, close             to 187B; when woody, close to 177C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Width.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Dentate to serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth to rugose, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Rugose, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147B; venation, close to 145B. Developing and fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D; venation,             close to 145D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small,             inconspicuous star-shaped fertile flowers arranged on             mophead-type terminal panicles; panicles globular and             slightly flattened in shape; flowers face upright to             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 16             weeks after planting; short production time as a cooling             treatment is not required for flower development; continuous             flowering from spring to autumn in Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about four months on             the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last             about one month on the plant, fertile flowers not             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 70 to 80             sterile flowers per panicle and about 40 to 50 fertile             flowers per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 6 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 12 cm to 15 cm.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 155A.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 62D.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm to 4 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.         -   Petals, fertile flowers only, sterile flowers without             petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl.             Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 145D. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 62C; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 2 cm to             2.5 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 144C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 145C. Fully opened, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 69C; towards the base, close to             155B; color becoming closer to 69C with development.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B; color does             not change with development.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to between             157D and 69C.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 69C.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers only; sterile flowers             without reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower:             Eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to             155D. Anther shape: Conical. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 63C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 1.55D. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower:             Three. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma             color: Close to 69B. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:             Close to 69B. Ovary color: Close to 69C.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: About 20 to 30. Length: About             0.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.1 mm. Color: Close to 200C. -   Disease & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,     plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant     to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 38°     C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HBA 214903’ as illustrated and described. 